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Terra Germania |
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ћарина ¬ладимировна алинина Our trip to Wiesbaden |
This
summer I had an unforgettable journey to Germany. At first a group of German schoolchildren and their teachers visited
Saint Petersburg in April and lived there in the families of their Russian friends
according to the program of school exchange between our school and Guttenberg Gymnasium in
Wiesbaden. Later, in June we flew to Frankfurt and then went by train to Wiesbaden
Ц the capital of the state Hessen. Wiesbaden lies in the heart of Germany and in the
center of Europe. The cityТs proximity to Frankfurt International airport is important,
especially for international visitors, the largest airport in Europe is only 30 minutes
away by car or by train. Wiesbaden is both a convention center and health center with many parks;
it is a city where the quality of life is god and it is a city of fashionable villas and
wine. The rapid rise of the sleepy provincial town into a highly fashionable world spa
occurred during the 19th century. Until World War the 1st,
Wiesbaden, with its hot springs, its mild climate and its casino was a magnet drawing the
crowned heads and money aristocrats from all over Europe. Wiesbaden owes its unified cityscape of magnificent public buildings and
grand residential districts to the construction boom which started in the beginning of the
20th century. A new town hall, a
magnificent theatre, a central train station, a large УKurhausФ (spa building) were
built at this time. During these years, WiesbadenТs second career as the capital of the
German champagne and wine industry also commenced. WeТve had a wonderful journey around the Niederwald area, by the cable
car, chairlift and ship. During this trip up the hills we observed a wonderful view of the
vineyards and the Niederwald Monument with its Statue of УGermaniaФ. The monument is
38 m. high and it commemorates the Franco-German war of 1870-1871 and the re-establishment
of the German Empire. During our trip downwards, we had a fantastic view of the
Rhine-valley up to the Mainz and the romantic old town center of Rudesheim. In Mainz we
visited the museum of Iohan Guttenberg and saw the first print machine with the help of
which he had printed the first books. We have also been to the cathedral in Mainz, the
windows of which had been painted by famous Mark Shagal. One of the most prominent sights of Wiesbaden is its famous Casino.
Casinos in Wiesbaden have always been the twin brothers of mineral springs and spas.
Wealthy customers visited mineral springs to relax from their daily stress and to improve
their health. What could be more appropriate than to temp oneТs luck at a game of
fortune. Our group had an interesting excursion in the Casino at the day time. Kings,
musicians, writers (among them was Russian writer Dostoyevsky) Ц they all came to
Wiesbaden to try their luck at the gaming tables. Nowadays more and more people value the
Casino as a place of high-quality entertainment and social life. Of course, one of the most important advantages of our journey to Germany was the ability to widen our knowledge of the German language, speaking with German schoolchildren, members of their families, their teachers. |
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